Chapter Text
When Alana told him the reception would be outdoors by the infinity pool, Will pictured deck chairs and swim trunks. The reality was a bit more luxe, as he supposed it should be. The deck chairs were cleared away for gold upholstered chairs and tables with fresh white linen tablecloths. There was even a wooden dance floor set up on the lawn for the party after dinner. Fresh flowers, locally grown from the Hyatt’s greenhouse, of course, perfumed the air and colored tea lights floated in the infinity pool.
The head table was not where Will would have chosen to sit. People kept looking over, smiling at the brides. Will resisted the urge to hide behind the centerpiece of peonies and hydrangeas, telling himself that those eyes were all seeking out Alana and Margot and he didn’t have to worry about the stares of strangers today.
It helped that Hannibal’s hand had found its way onto his thigh and was gently rubbing. In fact, it helped that he could smell Hannibal’s cologne, that he could listen to the man tell stories, and watch as he expertly directed attention to himself. Will could fade into the background and enjoy as Hannibal put on a show, all the while knowing, as Hannibal’s fingers inched up and down his thigh, that the man talking was focused on Will, even when chatting to others.
Still, as a best man, Will couldn’t avoid attention forever. So when Alana murmured that it was time for speeches before dancing, Will stood, straightening his suit and desperately missing the feeling of Hannibal’s hand on his leg. He took a deep breath, clutched the microphone, and tapped his drink with his fork.
“When Alana told me she was marrying a Verger, I told her she was nuts.” There was a polite laugh through the crowd, but Will could feel Alana’s death stare on the back of his neck. “The Vergers have used their money and power to excuse their terrible behavior for generations.”
Alana put her glass down, but Margot, who was watching Will intently, put her hand over Alana’s, stilling her new bride.
Will smiled. “I’m rarely wrong about people, but I was wrong about Margot. I see now what Alana saw from the beginning. Margot is not a Verger. She’s a woman who blossomed under adversity, who saw the wrongs of her family and bore their punishments without ever compromising who she is. And together with Alana, that strength will be nurtured and flourish. It’s no wonder she was meant to be a Bloom. Margot, I hope you’ll forgive me, I’m not willfully blind anymore. I hope I’ll see you at those weekly dinners we talked about. To the Blooms!”
Alana had tears in her eyes as she smiled at Will. Margot simply nodded at him, lifting her glass in a small toast before taking a sip.
“Why Will,” Hannibal rumbled in his ear. “That was nearly poetic.”
“Get an orgasm and a cocktail in me and I turn into a poet.” Will sipped some champagne, smiling as the bubbles burst on his lip.
Hannibal leaned forward, pressing a sucking kiss behind Will’s ear. “I’ll have you writing me sonnets by the end of the night.”
Will could feel his face heat, but he smiled. “There once was a doctor named Hannibal, who was a gentleman cannibal…”
With a huff, Hannibal stood, wine glass in hand. “When Margot and Alana announced their engagement, I had no objections.”
That earned a slightly larger laugh from the crowd. “But perhaps that is because I am a great admirer of aesthetics. Look at these lovely, accomplished women, how they complement each other in both grace and intelligence. Who could conceive of a better pair?”
Hannibal turned slightly, catching Will’s eye before raising his glass. “To equals. To finding them and keeping them, no matter the resistance you meet along the way. For there is nothing more important in this life than being seen and accepted by someone who can understand you. Having your soul resonate by finding a similar soul.”
Hannibal turned back to the crowd, glass aloft. “And now, because I know my dear Alana has bet her bride that I couldn’t get through a speech without a Dante reference, let me start their union with a victory for my friend. Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always. To the happy couple.”
“To the happy couple!”
Will glanced at Hannibal as he sat down. “An equal, huh?”
“In every way. Whether we’re dining alone or in the midst of a cocktail party.”
“I don’t do cocktail parties.”
Hannibal raised a brow. “Even if it’s to benefit Winston’s Place? I have a great number of philanthropists in my circle, you know.”
“I’ll grumble the whole time.”
“You’ll grumble at first,” Hannibal allowed as he sipped his champagne. “But then I’ll drag you into the pantry and make you come until you’re pink and happy the rest of the night. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to check on the serving team, the poached meringue for the dessert course must be plated delicately.”
Hannibal retreated in a swirl of fabric and cologne, Will staring after him with an incredulous smile on his face.
Margot glanced at Will. “I guess I should be glad he managed to fit us into that lovely toast to you.”
Will smiled, holding up his drink to toast them again. “Shouldn’t you two be dancing or something?”
Will splashed some cold water on his face. Hannibal had been gone for thirty minutes and he’d found himself getting irritated with the crowd. He’d been asked to dance twice. Three people had complimented his suit, running their hands over the embroidery on the coat and making Will itch.
He just needed a minute, maybe 45, to collect himself and then he’d face the crowd again.
“Oh dear, Will, did you find another stain on your trousers?”
Will jumped, turning just in time to see Hannibal turn the lock on the bathroom door. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Helping you get into a more festive mood,” Hannibal crowded him into the sink. Will did his best not to smile as he let himself be herded onto the countertop. “As the best man, it is my duty to make sure all of the guests are having a good time.”
Will grabbed Hannibal’s tie, yanking him close and wrapping a leg around his waist. “I better be the only guest whose morale you’re concerned with.”
Hannibal grinned. “Of course, Will. Now, tell me what I can do to…lift your spirits.”
“Shut up.” Will crashed their lips together. He bit Hannibal’s bottom lip, sucking on the plump flesh before slipping his tongue into that infuriating mouth. Hannibal hummed happily into the kiss, letting Will dig his hands into his perfectly gelled hair and drag him closer.
Hannibal was busy stroking over Will’s rapidly hardening cock, his clever fingers skirting over the emerald linen of Will’s pants just enough to make the empath shudder and moan.
When they broke apart, Will was panting. “Hannibal, I-”
“Have ruined my hair. Yes, I know.” Hannibal’s eyes narrowed. “What’s to be done about that?”
Pulling Will upright, Hannibal spun him so he faced the mirror. Will cried out softly in surprise, his thighs pinned to the counter and Hannibal’s strong left arm banding around his side to press into his stomach. With his right hand, Hannibal encouraged Will back, to settle against his chest. “Wha-”
“What did I tell you I would do if I found you grumbled during a party, Will?” Hannibal’s long fingers found the fly to Will’s pants and eased it down.
“Make me come until I’m p-pink and happy,” Will gasped.
Hannibal pulled Will’s cock free, stroking it softly. “You’re quite pink…but are you happy?”
Will’s head fell back to Hannibal’s shoulder, a soft needy noise escaping his throat.
“Hmmmm, we can do better than that, can’t we?” Hannibal fingers left Will’s cock and pressed to Will’s lips. “Lick, please.”
Will’s eyelashes fluttered. He straightened up so he could look into Hannibal’s heated gaze as he ran his tongue lasciviously over Hannibal’s hand. The doctor smiled, before wrapping that wet hand around Will’s hand and pulling firmly.
Will gasped, falling back into the solid support of Hannibal’s chest as he thrust into that tight grip. “Fuck.”
“We haven’t the time,” Hannibal murmured into Will’s ear, his pace increasing. “But perhaps at the next party, I’ll open you before the first guest arrives.”
Will groaned, hands frantically digging into Hannibal’s arms as he lost himself to the sensation. “Y-yeah.”
“Perhaps I’ll have you wear a plug.” Hannibal’s hand twisted at the crown of Will’s cock, thumbing lightly at the weeping slit. “Then it would just be a matter of pulling down your pants, removing the plug, and slipping right in.”
“God,” Will shook, his hips stuttering in their thrusts. His body was drawing tight. He was so close... static forming around the corners of his vision.
“Do you like that, Will? The idea that I could just slip into you at a party?” Will nodded blindly, hissing as Hannibal tightened his grip a fraction. “I’ll have you on every surface of my kitchen, Will. You’ll be pressed against the wine rack while a quartet plays light classical music and the Baltimore Opera Board chatters about next year’s programs.”
“Yes. Pl-please. I-”
“Of course, if you’d prefer I could wear the plug, let you take your frustrations out on me until you’re ready to socialize again.”
Will cried out, head rolling to seek a sloppy kiss from Hannibal as neared the edge. Hannibal obliged, licking into Will’s slack mouth before whispering. “Would you like to bend me over my antique butcher block and bite curses into my shoulder as you took me, Will? All the while knowing my guests could walk in looking to refill their wine.”
Will came with a guttural noise, the orgasm nearly punched out of him. He panted as Hannibal held him, purring little nonsense endearments into Will’s ear as he soothed the empath’s breathing and cleaned his hand. He tucked Will back into his pants, kissing Will’s neck sweetly as he pulled the zipper up. “I believe you’re pink and happy now.”
Will shook his head, the orgasm leaving him loose-limbed. Hannibal frowned but didn’t have time to argue before Will collapsed to his knees. He pawed at Hannibal’s pants, unfastening them with clumsy fingers. “Will, we can take care of that lat-”
There was no preamble or finesse, Will yanked Hannibal’s trousers and underwear down to his thighs and pressed a sucking kiss to the tip of that weeping cock. Hannibal made a small noise of surprise, followed by a deep groan as Will parted his lips and let Hannibal’s cock sink into his mouth.
He hummed, bringing Hannibal’s hand to his hair. The doctor tugged once, making Will groan. Hannibal began to fuck Will’s mouth shallowly, careful thrusts that teased at the back of Will’s throat. With shaking hands Will grabbed Hannibal’s hips, forcing the doctor deep and swallowing around the intrusion in his throat.
Hannibal made a wounded noise, yanking on Will’s hair. Will sucked harder, running his nails down Hannibal’s hips to lightly tug on the man’s balls. That was enough. Hannibal came hissing through gritted teeth as Will swallowed him down.
Trembling fingers swept over Will’s cheek. Will let Hannibal slide from his mouth so he could kiss them.
Will looked up, feeling a swell of adoration for the beautiful man before him. “Better than anything I’ve eaten all day.”
Hannibal’s eyes narrowed. “You are aware I personally supervised the catering of tonight’s meal, aren’t you?”
Will laughed, tucking Hannibal’s cock away and fastening his pants. “I just meant-”
A bathroom stall burst open to Will’s right. A very red-faced Uncle Harry stumbled out, rushing to the door. He banged into it at first before Hannibal very helpfully said “It’s locked” in an even voice.
“Thank you,” Uncle Harry blurted. “The uh…dinner was very good.”
He fled back to the party leaving Will and Hannibal blinking at the door.
Hannibal was the first to recover. “Honestly Will, the next time you seduce me in a bathroom I expect you to make sure it’s vacant.”
“Seduce YOU? You were the one who got all-” Will stopped, sighing before laughing. “What’s the chance Uncle Harry keeps his mouth shut?”
“I’m sure half the wedding party is aware that they should avoid the bathroom off the library by now.”
Will let his head fall in his hands. “Oh god.”
“You should learn to relax with yourself, Will.” Hannibal zipped his fly, adjusted his belt, then offered Will a hand as he stood. “We both enjoyed ourselves and Uncle Harry got a lascivious story to share. It was a mutually beneficial incident.”
“Alana’s going to kill me.”
“She’d be a fool to attempt it.” Hannibal swept the curl off Will’s forehead with a smile. “You’re by far the deadliest member of the wedding party.”
“Will. Nice of you to join us again.” Margot smiled as Will slipped back into his seat. Hannibal had gone to complain to someone about the petit fours they were serving that were clearly frozen and Alana was off on the dance floor surrounded by little cousins. Will would have enjoyed the relative solitude if it wasn’t for the knowing look Margot was giving him.
“I-”
“Got locked in a bathroom?” Margot raised her eyebrows innocently, plucking her champagne flute off the table to take a sip. “Lot of that going around. Alana’s poor Uncle Harry had a similar problem.”
Will followed Margot’s eyes to see Uncle Harry whispering to a scandalized-looking guest. “I can explain-”
“Will, the last thing I want is details.” She laughed. “I really thought Mason was the one that would cause a scene at the wedding. This is…less horrifying.”
They lapsed into silence for a moment. Margot grinned as she watched Alana dance with a small girl with a floppy bow in her hair. Will nudged her. “Marriage suits you.”
“Does it?” Margot’s smile faltered just a bit. “I was afraid nothing ever would. Being a Verger didn’t.”
“What will you do now that you’re a Bloom?”
“Luckily for me, I bagged a doctor, just like Papa always wanted.” She laughed. “So, I won’t have to worry about living on the streets. But I do want to contribute to the household. I hope to work with horses. There’s a barn near our house that needs a manager.”
Margot finished her drink and regarded Will with a raised eyebrow. “Of course, I imagine I’ll be quite busy running the Find Mason Verger Foundation Papa will set up when I tell him Mason left the wedding and was never heard from again.”
“Will he put you in charge of that? After disowning you?”
Margot snorted. “I’m always in charge of the shit no one else wants to deal with. He won’t last a week before he calls me demanding I organize things.”
“And when Mason is never found?”
“Then Molson’s fortune goes to the Baptists…unless the search for Mason drains away his money into an offshore account.”
Will smirked. “Shame about that.”
“Truly a tragedy.” Margot stood up, smoothing her skirt. “I’m going to go dance with my wife. Stay out of the bathrooms.”
Will laughed, leaning back in his chair. “Broom closet it is, then.”
Will had to admit, having a date at a wedding wasn’t so bad. Hannibal had come back from yelling about frost-bitten petit fours and swept Will onto the dance floor. Will had protested at first, but within two songs had found himself laughing and literally kicking up his heels.
When the DJ played a slow song and he was able to melt into Hannibal, it was better. The doctor apparently liked to whisper filthy things into his dance partner’s ear as they moved. Will had never been that fond of dirty talk before, but he had to admit The Chesapeake Ripper could paint a vivid picture with words or body parts.
They took a break to watch the girls cut the cake and feed each other bits of their slices. Will had always maintained that people who fed each other were the worst people on Earth. But now, as he bit into the fluffy lemon and mascarpone cake dangling off of Hannibal’s fork, he reasoned that hooking up with a serial killer probably already made him the worst person on Earth, so there really wasn’t a need to worry about the cake thing.
He objected once when Alana dragged him to the dance floor for the bouquet toss.
“This is for single women! And a sexist tradition!”
Alana raised an eyebrow. “This is a lesbian wedding, Will. Are you really going to try to invoke the patriarchy right now?”
“But-”
“What’s the worst that could happen, Will?” Margot waved her bouquet of white calla lilies menacingly toward him. “Hannibal moves up your wedding by a week?”
“What?”
Margot smiled. “He’s asked about our availability in January.”
Will froze. Alana and Margot laughed, swishing off to toss their bouquets in unison. Will felt a warm presence beside him. “January?”
“If you’d prefer December, we could manage it,” Hannibal said, eyes fixed on the brides. “But the holidays do put such a rush on things.”
“You haven’t proposed.”
Hannibal turned to Will, face scrunched in distaste. “At a wedding? Oh, Will, that would be unforgivable.”
Will raised an eyebrow at Hannibal, who had turned back to the brides.
“We’ll announce the engagement when they return from the honeymoon. Now please focus Will, it won’t do for me to catch one and you to miss.”
“What happens if I don’t catch it?”
“Well traditionally, I would dance with whoever else was victorious.” Hannibal cast a glance over the crowd. “Perhaps that eager young lady who winked at me earlier. She seems keen.”
Will frowned. As much as he didn’t want to, his mind conjured an image of Hannibal dancing with the blonde who had just elbowed a clearing around her in preparation. She had winked at Hannibal earlier. And at the rehearsal dinner, she’d asked where he was at least twice. He could see them dancing around, Hannibal smiling his charming murderer smile and her grubby hands groping the ass that belonged to Will.
Fuck that noise.
Looking forward. Will locked his gaze onto Alana. “You go for Margot’s bouquet. I’ve got Alana.”
“Yes, dear.”
When Alana loosed the bouquet, Will zeroed in on it like Buster when a treat was tossed. He ran, eyes never leaving his prize. He felt something connect with his left side but shoved it off, nothing mattering but wrapping his hands around the satin-tied stems of the white peonies fluttering above his head.
He snatched his prize from the air, turning to grin triumphantly at Hannibal, who was watching him with delight, his own prize in his left hand. Will turned, offering the blonde a half-hearted smile and a hand-up. Hauling her upright, he leaned in. “Sorry, I uh…I’m getting married in January so…”
Will trotted back toward Hannibal, flowers clutched in his hands. “I got ‘em.”
“You got her.” Hannibal looked over Will’s shoulder with a bemused smile. “I was afraid I’d have to hide yet another body for you this weekend.”
“It was a tap. She’s fine.”
“She’s limping to the bar as we speak.”
Will rolled his eyes, setting his bouquet on the table before doing the same for Hannibal’s flowers. “She’ll put some ice on it and be fine in the morning. Dance with me.”
Hannibal grinned, wrapping his arms around Will. This was not the more formal ballroom posture they’d had earlier in the night. This was a swaying of two people that needed to be as close to one another as possible.
Will pressed his head to Hannibal’s chest, the beat of the doctor’s heart a steady comfort as they moved closer to the infinity pool, red and gold lights floating beneath them.
“An injured bridesmaid, a demand for a dance…am I to understand that my charms have finally won you over?”
“Your charms? No. You…” Will looked up, making a considering face. “You’re growing on me.
“Delightful news.” Hannibal brought Will’s head back to his chest with a soft guiding hand. They could hear the water lapping over the music. “May I assume that means I’m allowed to continue planning for January?”
“No need.” Will looked up, a beatific smile on his face. “If you want to take the plunge, we can do that now.”
Hannibal pulled back just slightly, brows furrowed. “Will, don’t you-”
Will hooked his ankle around Hannibal’s legs and pushed with his upper body. They had, perhaps, a second and a half before they hit the water, and in that moment, Hannibal managed to glare, smile, and close his eyes utterly resigned to his fate.
The splash drew a crowd, gasping guests circling the infinity pool but avoiding the residual water. Will surfaced first, laughing as he gasped for air. He waved off Uncle Harry, who was holding out a pool skimmer to rescue him, and batted a red tealight away as he turned in search of Hannibal.
A great splash behind him made Will smile. Powerful wet hands grabbed his shoulders and spun him in the water. Hannibal loomed over him, hair in wet hanks on his forehead, suit stuck to his broad shoulders and dripping, jaw tight, and eyes full of amusement. Will cast his eyes down, only to notice that Hannibal’s purple tie was floating before him like some sort of water moccasin. Will laughed, just as Hannibal’s fingers dug into his shoulders and jerked him into a smiling kiss.
The crowd began to laugh, and a few people clapped. Margot announced that dancing would resume on the lawn, away from any more water features. When they pulled apart, Hannibal narrowed his eyes. “Just for that, I’m going to plan the most formal, stuffy wedding you’ve ever seen Will Graham, PhD, FBI emeritus. Even your dogs will be in three-piece suits.”
“Hmmmm…and how many guests will we have to kill for that dinner, Dr. Lecter?”
Hannibal pursed his lips, no doubt running through his recipes. “I’d like us to have an intimate formal affair. If we plan in advance, I imagine we’d only need two or three bodies. You’d be amazed how many meals you can make from a single person if it’s prepped correctly.”
Will grinned. Nothing surprised him anymore. “Any vegetarian options?”
“Will, please tell me you don’t associate with vegetarians.”
“No, just serial killers.”
“That is a relief.”
Will swirled them in the water, red and gold tealights forming a floating halo around them. “Three-piece suits for the dogs, huh?”
Hannibal nodded, letting Will support him as they floated. “And not a pool in sight, you menace. You’ll be in head-to-toe satin with a ring so ostentatious you’ll blush every time you see it on your finger.”
Will laughed, sending ripples through the water. “Worth it.”
And it was.